- HUCHUY QOSQO AND MACHUPICCHU
- Amazing adventure
* Huchuy, (J)Huch'uy (Huch'uy - Juch'uy) = Small
* Qosqo = Cusco
Huchuy Qosqo (Huch'uy Qosqo) means "Small Cusco", but no one can explain why it was assigned this name, because in general it resembles all Inca cities and definitely does not have any special resemblance to the city of Cusco. The Inca name that is known is K'ajya Qhawana and it translates as "where you look at the ray." The chroniclers, due to their lack of knowledge of Quechua, recorded various forms of the same name: Caquia Xaquixaguana, Sacsahuna, Xaquixaguana, Huana, among others.
It is a fabulous archaeological monument. Huchuy Qosqo was a population of height, located on the 3550 msnm; on a small plain in the upper third of the mountain. From this place you have a beautiful view, being able to appreciate on the other side of the valley the incomparable beauty of the perpetual snow-capped mountains of Pitusiray and Sahuasiray.
BRIEF HISTORY
According to the chroniclers, it was the Inca Huiracocha, who founded Huchuy Qosqo on a place that was already populated previously. When the first Inca, Manco Cápac, arrived in the Cusco valley, he found the area occupied by various nations (K'illke) that were later defeated and incorporated into the Empire. One of those nations was based on Huchuy Qosqo.
The chronicler Pedro Cieza de León, in his book "Señorío de los Incas", refers to this issue as follows: "The Inca was determined to go to Condesuyo, but being tired and old, he left it. At that time he ordered that some palaces be made for him in the Xaquixaguana valley (Juch´uy Qosqo) to go out and recreate in them; And since he had many children and knew that the oldest of them, who was by name Inca Urco, in whom the command of the kingdom should remain, had bad habits, and was vicious and cowardly, he wanted to deprive him of the dominion to give it to another, younger man, that by name had Inca Yupanqui ”.
TOUR DESCRIPTION:
DAY 01 (CUSCO - CHINCHERO - HUCHUY QOSQO - LAMAY - OLLANTAYTAMBO):
The walk starts at 3700 meters above sea level, passes 4400 meters above sea level. and finish at 2900 meters above sea level. which means crossing the mountains between the town of "Chinchero" and those of the "Sacred Valley of the Incas". This excursion will last approximately 08 hours, crossing different ecological levels with its characteristic flora and fauna.
We leave Cusco at 6 in the morning, in our private vehicle to the town of TAUCA, taking part of the route to the town of Chinchero, which still keeps its ancestral traditions alive; We will pass through the Witapujio, Cuper Bajo, Cuper Alto communities. On the way we stop to see closely the PIURAY lagoon (water source of the city of Cusco), the archaeological group of Waca Kancha that was destined for religious ceremonies related to the Wakas, as well as extensive fields of cultivation. The community of Tauca (3800 masl.) Is where our walk begins, a time of surprises where mountains, streams, plains, dense clouds, cold, heat, flora and fauna are confused, incorporated in a colorful and majestic landscape that impacts and impresses, where the remote trails lead to live historical and traditional Andean testimonies.
We take a gently sloping path to the Pucajasa pass (4393 meters above sea level), where we have a great view of the Urubamba mountain range. After the pass we begin the descent, finding parts of the Inca Trail. We will visit the archaeological remains of the Inca Workshop, León Punku; thus arriving at Huchuy Qosqo (3688 masl) and after a short rest, we will begin the guided visit to the archaeological site. After the visit to the archaeological center we will begin the descent towards the town of Lamay (2938 masl), where we will take our transport that will take us to the Ollantaytambo train station (1 hr.). We will take the train for 1:40 hrs towards the town of Aguas Calientes where we will spend the night. Aguas Calientes (2000 masl), is a small town located 30 minutes (by bus) from the citadel of Machupicchu.
DAY 02 (AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHUPICCHU – AGUAS CALIENTES – OLLANTAYTAMBO - CUSCO):
For this trip, we will pick you up from your hotel in Aguas Calientes, then we will take one of the buses to ascend 400 m. in 30 minutes along a zigzag path until you reach the wonder of the world "The citadel of Machupicchu", which is inside the "Historic Sanctuary of Machupicchu". The guided tour in Machupicchu takes approximately 2 hours. You will begin to visit the main sectors of the citadel: the sacred square, the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana (Solar Clock), the Royal Enclosures, the Temple of the Three Windows and the cemetery. At the end of the tour you will have free time to explore the citadel on your own. After this visit, you must return to the town of Aguas Calientes and enjoy your lunch in one of the local restaurants; Then you will take the train back; the return will follow the same pattern as the outward journey. When you arrive at the train station in Ollantaytambo, we will be waiting for you with our bus to take you back to the city of Cusco.
THE SERVICE INCLUDES:
THE SERVICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
WE RECOMMEND TO BRING:
HUCHUY QOSQO AND MACHUPICCHU MAP
